Hot Springs Hijinks

Hot Springs Hijinks:

A Day at the Hot Springs Goes Wrong

Denzil Jayasinghe
·

Hey buddy, you won’t believe it! My father finally said we could ditch the beach for a trip to the hot springs. My classmates have been talking about them for ages, and it sounded way cooler than just sitting around at this boring home. Don’t get me wrong — the beach is cool — but man, every day feels the same here, especially when Father is away at that conference all afternoon with those ministers and politicians.

The bus ride to the hot springs was the worst — bumpy and hot. But when we finally got there, it was worth it. There were these seven little pools, all steaming like crazy. I grabbed a bucket and a rope, just like everyone else, and raced to get in the first one.

The water was perfect, not too hot, not too cold. There were many other boys my age and even some little kids splashing around with their mothers. Sweet! This was way better than the beach.

The coolest part was that I got to wash myself by myself. Here, I felt like a grown-up. I grabbed my father’s Lux soap bar and lathered up like crazy. Then I ran back to the well to rinse off, but a man and his kid were already using it. No worries, though. I just waited my turn. Finally, it was my turn to refill my bucket, and I dunked myself in the hot water again.

This Image belongs to the original owners

You won’t believe the worst part about these hot springs! There’s only one towel for the whole family, and guess who gets the last turn? This guy! Just because I’m the oldest doesn’t mean I shouldn’t get to dry off properly, right? So, I wait patiently for my turn, and when I finally get the towel, I take forever drying off because, well, you know, I’m soaking wet.

The problem is, there’s no way I can change into my dry clothes without, you know, flashing everyone around me. So, I find this little corner, hoping no one sees me, and yank down my wet pants — big mistake. I can’t believe it. This is so embarrassing! I try to cover myself up as best I can while I wrestle on my dry pants, but it takes forever. The whole time I’m freaking out that one of the other boys will see me. Now, something has happened, and I am doubly embarrassed. I hope to God none of them did.

This is my worst embarrassment ever!

Subscribe to my stories https://djayasi.medium.com/subscribe

Sri Lanka
Youth

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Child of Curiosity

Image
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
Read more

Demons and Devotion

Image
Demons and Devotion: A Family’s Pilgrimage Denzil Jayasinghe · “Demons and Devotion: A Pilgrimage to Tewatta”   is a short story by Denzil Jayasinghe about a family’s pilgrimage to a holy site in Sri Lanka.   The story follows Denzil, the eldest son, as he reluctantly accompanies his devout parents on this journey to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Although initially sceptical, Denzil reflects on his childhood faith and his family's hardships.   However, the pilgrimage turns unexpectedly when an encounter with a priest who claims a demon possesses Denzil creates tension and leaves him angry. T he air hung heavy with a solemnity that felt out of place for a silver wedding anniversary. Denzil’s father, whose pronouncements held the weight of scripture, declared, “We are going on a special trip to the holy place of Our Lady at Tewatta. This day, showing God’s blessings, will be a private event for our family.” On a recent arrival for a two-week holiday in Sri Lanka...
Read more

Shattered Innocence

Image
  Shattered Innocence A story of a needle Denzil Jayasinghe · “Shattered Innocence. A Story of a Needle”   by   Denzil Jayasinghe   is a short story told from the perspective of a lad who discovers their   father injecting insulin . This discovery shatters his innocence as he grapples with the reality of his   father’s diabetes   and the fear and uncertainty it brings. The story explores themes of family, responsibility, and the challenges of facing difficult realities. T he pre-dawn light filtered through the window, casting a pale glow over a scene that shattered my world. We were lost in the quiet routine of getting ready — me for the apprenticeship, my siblings for school, and my father for his work. I wandered into my parents’ room, searching for the familiar black comb. What I found wasn’t the comb but a sight that froze me in my tracks. Father, stripped down to his white undies, his usually strong face creased with worry, was doing something… di...
Read more